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Bulletin No. 6 M. M. LEI tH TON 


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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANTA 





, —_———— 


DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS 
games F. Woodward, Secretary 





nu, BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
George H. Ashley, State Geologist 


re es 
ret sean Rin egN ERE at Sem eee Ser RS OT AS pe 


RIVER AND CREEK COAL IN BASTERN PENNSYLVANIA 


nuary 10, L920. 


Inthe early days of anthracite coal mining little attention 
mre now 


was poic at the washerics to the fine Y Sizes of coa.- What 
known 2S bueckwheset coal and HIGS ) COL 
wen Could Tound their way to the streamg craining the 
Sishner directly from he mines or by way.of the culm banks. 
Went on, the culm banks assumed 
-iarge anthracite mines, in inter yearg, with improved 
Mining and. increased demands for the 
waste from the mine washeries has ae icticalLly 


4 


and a large percentoge Oh iy he 
territory 

49 time 
mountainous proportions at all the 

a methods of 
Shall sizes of coal, this 


it. 0? 


Stopped, and now 


the 


Operators are utilizing everything except possibly the dus particles, 

The coal washing into the streams from the mines and culm banks 
was carried away by repeated freshets and a a water Mmoeenas and 
evenvuusally reached the rivers. At some points.on the smaller 

Streams where there were low-lying lands adjactnt to the stream 
banks, large quantities of cosl were deposited outside the stream 
channels, ' 
EARLY OPERATIONS. 
For @ iong time no attempts were mace-to reclaim any of the 


(Ty 
enti aes 


goal washed into the streams. The first: operations of w 
any record were on the Susquehanna River, first in the 
Harrisburg and 2 little later near Sunbury, and were carried 
sand pumpers in @onnection with their sand business, These 
tions started about 18691 or i892. For | number of years the 


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was carried on in a desultory fashion. There was little demand for 
the product ant a very small price could be obtained because bitu- 
minous coal was cheap and commercial plants were then not equipped 
With grates and blowers such as are necessary for burning fine 
Sizes of coal, 


The Lirst river coal reclnimed'in the Harrisburg district sold 
[or about 5O cents 2 ton and the price did not go above 65 cents for 
ten years, 


OPERATIONS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER AEs 
‘Several tributaries of Susquehanna River, viz: Swatara Creek, 

yaccn.s co Creek, Mahanoy Creek, Shamokin Creek and the North Branch 
Peat we anthracite coal ficlds, All of these tributaries with the 
possible exception of Swatara Creek, join in Teeding coal into the 
evecuchanny River south of Sunbury. The beds of most of. these 
Prerks are more heavily overlaid with conl then any part of the 
Fiver bed, However, for along time Ope Ta tLons were contined to 
ne river, and none was started in the erceks until about 1915-16, 
when owing to war and labor conditions, the price of soft coal ad- 
Vance? and Shortages in production began to be experienced. 


‘pince 1916 numerous operations have been inst ane don W2con- 
asco, Mahanoy, and Shamokin erceks ane tho North Branch of the 
susguehanna, The supply of coal reclaimed at some niaoes is’ usec 
Porcocal consumption only, but the larger operators are shipping 
the ir product NOVeasterm cicies, The’ price’ .or river ‘coal shies 
advanced to about $2.50 a ton on board cars at point of shipping, 
Goa une industry would appear to be profitable provided its life can 
be sufficiently prolonged to justify the initial expense of the 
installation of plants, 


A.number of methods have been adopted in different localities 
along the Susquehanna and its tributaries for, reclaiming the coal 
from the stream beds, because the different conditions of wicth, 
Gepth and velocity of the current. seem to require different methocs 
of working, On the river proper, including the North Branch from 
Pittston south to York i eare nearly all, of the’ coal is reclaimed 
by rotary pumps mounted on flat boats which are moved from place to 
place on the river, However, below the mouth of Mehanoy Orcek south 
to Herndon, several operators are reclaiming large amounts of coal 
With bucket dredges of the endless chain type mounted on flat boats, 
scooping up the coal from the shoals instead of pumping it. 


The creeks in most places are too narrow, shallow, or swift 
for the successful use of floating outfits, such as pumps and 
dredges, and other methods are used for reclaiming the coal. Con- 
eicerable quantities in shallow water are shovelled by hand into’ 
flat boats. Rotary pumps are permanently installed on the banks, 
and the coal pumpe d either through stationary pipes placed at the 
weir of rude cams constructed of stones and brusn, or in some 
instances through pipes with a flexible joint carricd over 2 flat- 
boat and moved back and forth over the limited areca. 


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On Shamokin Creek large quantities of coal are successfully 
harvested with clamshell scoops of about one yard crpacity. 


Coal cannot be profitably removed at 211 points rlong the river 
Or its tributaries, at least by methocs now in use. South of Sun- 
bury,river operations heve been successful only in certain reas, 
Considerable co2zl is being removed above the dam in the vicinity of 
York Haven and as far up the river as Ciy, along the eastern bank 
Opposite Highspire and Steelton, and opposite the city of Harrisburg 
and south of the Rockville bridge. Above the Rockville bridge the 
next available area is above the Clarks Yerry damn for a cdistance of 
Several miles. The next aren is nlong the east sice of the river 
for five or six miles south of Mahanoy Creek in the vicinity of 
Herndon, A limited quantity of co2l can be reclaimed south of 
Sunbury below the junction of the North and West Branches and below 
the mouth of Shamokin Creek, The West Branch of the Susquehanna, 
above its junction with the North Branch at Sunbury, does not drain 
any coat fields, 


Between the several sreas named the river is roeky and shallow 
and the current is too swift to permit pumping coal by portable 
‘Machinery, On the creeks the water conditions are about the same 
au ail points and the cocl could be reclaimed almost anywhere. Here 
nowever, the question of transportation arises. When the coal can 
be recovered by portable machinery and carried on flatboats to any 
Convenient wharf, transportation difficulties can be largely over- 
Come, but when the cool must-be deposited at a definite place on 
the bank Where the machinery for re Ota mine is located, it cannot 
be profitably hauled any great distance for loading on ears, and is 
available oniy-for local. consumption. 


On Wieconiseo Creek the Pennsylvania Railroad is accessibie for 
Shipping at Millersburg near the mouth’of the creek, and at Woocsice, 
at Elizabethville,.and-Loyalton, 33, 9, and 12 miles above Millers- 
burg. Other points along the oreek are inaccessible to the rail- 
feed jane even at the places named the transportation problem is 
Somewhat serious 2s the railroad grade is approximately fifty feet 
above the creek. 


On Mahanoy Creek coal can be Shipped by either the Reading or 
Pernsylvaniea yailroads at Herndon at the mouth of the creek; on the 
Reading 2t Dornsife Station and at Hunter Station, seven and ten 


miles up the stream eae eres These are sat only pointe on Ths 
Mahonoy Creek where large operations can be sue cessfully conducted, 


On Shamokin Greek conditions are somewhat different. The 
Stream flows through open country between Shamokin and Sunbury and 
is fianked for the entire distance ty both the Pennsylvania and 
Reading railrogds, Short sige-tracks from one or the other at ecsy 
Prades are aveaileble and shipping facilities are all that could be 
desired, 

Up the North Branch of the Susquehanna River the Delawrre, 
Lackswanna an& Western railroad on the west and the Pennsylvania 
Railroad on the east, might furnish good shipping facilities at many 


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points between Sunbury anc Pittston. In this district however, there 
is little evidence that any conl has been shipped by rail, mos t of 
it haying. been carried to local markets on flatboats 


South of Rockville bon on the Susquehanne River a dozen 
large operations and a number of smaller ones during the year 1919 
reclaimed approximately 400,000 tens of coal. Much of this conl was 
taken out by local industries for their ow use, and practically 
none was Shipped, Among the operntors in the district are Ray 
Stewart; Ha arrisburg Light, Hest and Power Company, MeCreath and 
shutter, Cohen and:Leiby, D. W. Cox Company, M. Ry’ Stewart, Indcus- 
SCaad Coal Company, Central Iron and Siay Company, Frank Downey, 
Martin Construction and Supply Company, Sherman Hull, Willicm Huff, 


In the Clarks Ferry district the operations during 1919 were 
not extensive. The output for the year of the three operators - 
Heck Brothers, Harry Lukens and Harry Lukens, Jr,, - was 30,000 
tons, the ere ater port of which was delivered to the Harris sburg ais 
trict and the remainder shipped to more distart points, 


On Wiconisco Creek the largest operation has been conducted by 
the Juniata Puslic Service Company for their own use, and half 
€ozen cther ors rators, including Charles Keefer, Mattes Milling 
Comcany, James Curren, sand Zeigler and Swope have taken out coal 
which was vsed by local in@ustries between Hlizabethville and Millers- 
Pore. the Coral production ‘for this creek ‘for, 1919 would), not exceed 
50,000 tons. 


On Mahonoy Creek and in Susquehsanns River immediately below the 
mouth of the creek, some Inrge operations have been conducted and 
several other plants were being installed for operation in 1920, 
Two operators have removed about 50,000 tons from the river in 1919, 
and Six comparatively large plants on the creek and four or tive 
smaller ones have taken out 100 , 000 - tons, Among the operators in 
THis district are Beck and Hillbush, Herndon Coal Company; Eastern 
Coal Estate, Hower Cool Company, High Cirbon Fuel Company, C. D. 
Perer. pornsite Coal Company) Hy L. Beck and)B, 'W. Pindhom. The 
greater part of the 150,000 tons Pec LA iMe Vim tae a Soret) imho Lo 
was Shipped to castern Cities, 

On Shamokin Creek, probably owing to bettor transportation 
facilities, the incus try seems to have been overworked during the 
last two years, Operations along the creek are almost as numerous 
as fishermen e2long 2 popular trout stream on the first day of the 
Season. Some of the plants on this creek have lerger capacity than 
any others in the district, Pour operators are loading about ten 
Cars of coal a cay; six about five cars a day, and twelve about one 
ear a cay. About six plants on the stream were not working curing 
the latter part of 1919. The large operations in-this district are 
conducted by the Blaek Diamond Reclaiming Company, Arters-Coal 
Company, Anthracite Recls -iming Company, Eyre Coal Company, Faxinos 
Coal Company, A. Persing and Company, anc Weston Doccs Company. 
Operators on Shamokin Creek during 1919 reclaimed 750,000 tons of 
coal; all of which was shipped to Reading, Philedelphia anc New 
York, end to intermeciate points, except a small quantity used in 
Sunbury, 


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On the North Branch of Susquehanna River operations hove been 
concuctec near Sunbury, lsrgely by the Sunbu ry Converting Jorks Lor 
their own use. About 20, 000 tons were removed during 1919 by ‘this 
company. ‘The Bloomsburg. Hea peas Company, tay ceseans Brothers, 
Hoffman Brothers, Iuther Hess, Cee Robbins , and C. E, Custer re~ 
Claimed about 30,000 tons Paeteen sunbury end Shickshinny, 


North of Shickshinny and as far up the river os West Pittston 
a number of operators have been removing coal in a small way. Local 
public service companies have been dredging or pumping coal for 
their own use; and at least a dozen operators of flats working rether 
Bepesmocdically, 2s the price or demand for coal happens to increase 
have taken out a considerable tonmnoge, Altogether there was tiken 
out north of Shickshinny approximtely 150 000 tons, the principal 
Operators being the Scranton Electric Company, Utilitics Supply 
Company, Thomas Coal Company, Burns 2nd Fl2 nnig on, Davis and Daulbert, 
and John S. Solsoki. 


toe woul output of coal from the Susquchanns River’nand: its 
Prabutarics curing the year 1919 was opproximtely 1,580,000 tons, 


In-sttéying the industry 2long § SUS CUE hanna River and its trib- 
Uvaries, one apperently available district was found which, up to 
the present time , has not been workea, nemely, Swotara Creek north- 
Gee. OL Jonestown, Swatara Creek rises in the vicinity of Good 
mprane anc Donaldson, eest and north of Tremont, and drains a 
number of mining areas between Good Spring and Pine Grove, fifteen 
Mates tO the south... The stream from its source to Jonestown, 2 
Peeeotice 01 twenty miles or more, has a rapid fall and at meny places 
OMpues ConkS and bed, shows concitions similar to those in Wiconiseo, 
Mahanoy and Shamokin ereeks, The streom has been Ingen with coal 
Wash of the same character as the other streams for about eighteen 
teams, ord Up to the present time comparatively none has been re- 
Giaimec. At severnl places on the banks in the vicinity of 
Sucesburg ané Inwo 0. , little piles of coal were found which 
evicently had been dug by hand, 


Below Jonestovm Swatara Creek becomes winding and comperatively 
Siugegish, and before it reaches the river at Middletovn has apparent- 
ty lost its coal ceposits. As far up the stream es Hummelstown 
Ghere is little indication of co@l along the banks or on the shonls; 
the water is only slightly CGiscolorec, md it is saic thet fish hove 
been living in this pert of “the strear continuously. it would seem 
Pheu Geruainiy at ‘Some places slong this creek; which coula.be 
determined only by investigation, there must be Srtner inthe creek 
bed or olonge the. banxzs large Ceposits OF availleble coal, ‘There are 
however, no good transportation facilities between Jonestown ana 
Humme istown, One hundred thousand tons of conl could be reclaimed 
bwetween Jonestown and Tremont, 


OPERATIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER AREA. 


in the Schuylkill River area all of the operations are slong 
the river between Schuylkill Haven and Reading, Between these two 


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points the river is flanked by the Pennsylvani2 and Reading rail- 
roads ard transportation facilities are good. Practically all of 
the coal taken from Schuylkill River is reelaimed by rotary pur ps 
mounted on flatboats‘as in the Harrisburg district. Near Schuylkill 
Haven five operators, the Schuylkill Haven Drifted Coal Company, 
Spannuth and Bittle River Coal Company, Baker Coal and Ice Company, 
Bowen Brothers, and John B. Sirocco Compnny, removed 55,000 tons in 


1919, the ereater part of which was shipped to Reading and Phila- 
delphie. 


Near Landingville four operators, ‘Bechtel and Nichter, Landing- 
Ville Drifted Coai Com pany; Allenbach Coal Company and C. Arthur 
Fisher removed 30,000 tons, which was shipped to eastern:points. 
Between Landingville and Auburn’thké.Beecher Coal Company, Schappel 
end Bousher, Auburn Brick Works, Mengel Coal Compeny ana the Delaware 
peamless Tube Compeny have removed 40 ,000 tons, most of which was 
used = Ononaeely Between Auburn and Port Clinton the Black Diamond 
Coal Company, Sallace and Hicks, Charles Berkey ond several other 
operators: removed 465,000 tons, most of which was shipped to eastern 
markets. 


from Port Clinton southward, partly owing to river’ conditions, 
the next operation is near Berne "Station, south of Hamburg, where 
Bifrecd 0. Workley reclaimed 10,000 tons in 1915, . At Shoemakersville 
Grant B. Alleran and séveral other operators reclaimed 20,000 tons, 
At Lenhartsville the operator removed 10,000 tons, and at Reading 
two pumping outfits operated by John M. Ebers ole reclnimed 25,000 
hOns, ell of whieh was used locally. 


Coad iis Not aque in Schuylkill River south of Reading, exce 
invermittently in a small way. The total output from Schuylki 
Pavernim 1919 was 235,000 tons. 

im connection with the cheracter of the Schuylkill River 
Supply, it is inte: resting to note that at a point one mile south of 
penuylkill Haven, the Schuylkill Haven Drifted Conl Company has been 
eae aimost continuously Por four years:on an area said not to 
exceed 4000 sguare feet, moving their pump up and dow the stream 
for a distance of 200 feet between an 2bandoned canal dan and 2 
meaiirosd bridge,. They have removed many thousands OF tons) of coal 
from this area and state thet at no time were they compelled to 

Spend operations for lack of coal. 


The operations on the Schuylkill River are rather small con- 
pared with some on the Susquehanme and its branches. Only:‘a few are 
five years old,,. They have a capacity running from about 8,000 to 
15,000 tons per year. The water conditions are not favorable for 
pumping at all points, but at the places above named there are gooc 
pumping fields anc transportation facilities are favorable. There 
must be quantities of coal remaining in the river. bed north of 
Reading. and there are large ceposits in the bottom lands adjacent 
to the viver banks 


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OPERATIONS IN THE TZHIGH RIVER AREA. 

The Lehigh River drains only 2 sill part of the anthracite 
coal fields and has comparatively few river coal developments. ‘Phe 
principal ones are joprrated by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- 
pany at two points in connection with the dredging of their canal 
bec. This company reclaimed in 1919 about 100,000 tons of coal. 
Only two other operations could be found on the river, both of them 
small and located in the vicinity of Mauch Chunk, These two removed 
£0,000 tons in 1°19, 


TOTAL OUTPUT OF RIVER AND CREEK OOAL. 

‘The total output of coal from Lehigh River in 1919 was 120,000 
tons, from Sehuylkill River 235,000 tons, and from Susquehanna River 
and its tributeries 1,580,000 tons. The total output of river coal 
in ¢astern Pemsylvanie in 1919 therefore can be estimated at 
1,955,000 tons. Approximately the same amount of coal was reclaimed 
in 1916, but prior to that year the output was much less. 


RELATION OF WATER SHED TO COAL MEASURES. 


Susquehanna River and its tributaries drain about 73 per cent 
of the area of the mnthracite coal fields; Schuylkill River about 
18 per cent ond Lehigh River about 9 per cent. It does not necess- 
arily follow that the same proportion of coal is washed into the 
Seiorca rivers, It is likely that a larger proportion of /the coal 
in the Schuylkill and Lehigh rivers is lost, than there is of that 
reaching the Susquehann2. The Susquehenna River has a diviced 
current from where it receives the co2l wash even so far as the 
work Haven dam, The waters from the’ Juniate River anc the tributar- 
ies entering from the west follow the west bank: while the waters 
coming from the coal regions follow the east bank, From Sunbury to 
Harrisburg slong the east bank only 2 few small tributeries enter 
the river which are not coal bearing. The diviided current provices 
Shoaling piaces in mi@ stream where the coal is deposited, and from 
Woach a ‘large proportion of the river coal is reclaimed, On 
Schuylkill anc Lehigh rivers, large tributaries which are not coal 
bearing enter the streams from both erst ang west below the coal 
fields, greatly incroasing the flow without crerting a divided 
current as in the Susquehanna and without providing shoaling places 
for the coal. 


FUTURE OF TEE RIVER COAL INDUSTRY, 


Just what the lifé of this industry may be and how long the 
supply may last is: herd to determine. However, by roughly estimat- 
ing the cepth, length, snd width of the coal deposits in the 
streams, there is sufficient evidence to warrant assuming that the 
output in certain districts may he increased an? that in others the 
present developments may be continued for 2 ferioc of at least five 
years, even though practically no more coal shoulc be deposited. 


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This would not include any increase in production south of the Rock- 
ville bridge on the Susquehanna River. One hundred thousand tons 
more a year could be reclaimed in the Clarks Ferry district, on 
Wiconisco Creek, and the North Branch of Susquehanna Rive south of 
Nanticoke. It is likely however that the Shamokin Creek deposit 
worxed to its present capacity would be exhausted in much less than 
five years. There is not now relatively the same amount of coal in 
the bed of Shamokin Creek that may be found in other creek or river 
beds. There is, however, a district along Shamokin Creek between 
onydertown and Paxinos, where approximately eight hundred acres of 
bottom lends adjacent to the stream are covered with a thick deposit 
Of Goal, ~- No ettempt has yet been made to reclaim this coal except 
in one or two places where by means of drags, small quantities have 
been brought within reach of clamshell buckets, If a practical way 
be found to reclaim this coal, the life of the industry in the Sha- 
mokin district would probably be prolonged ssverel years and it 
Might be brought to the five year limit of the other areas, 


On Schuylkill River north of Reading the output could un- 
questionably be coubled. There sre areas adjacent to the river 
Whach are overlaid with coal, Some of these areas are covered with 
bushes and small trees but others are practically clean anc the coal 
might be reclaimed easily, 


Lehigh River is yielding 2s much coal as can be successfully 
removed and no material increase is possible, 


The estimate: that the industry may continue for a period of five 
years with some increase in the present rate of production is based 
Upon the assumption that no more coal would reach the streams. It 
teonot Likely, however, that the supply will suddenly cease, Fer 
some time no coal has been wasted from the mines and the supply hes 
been coming from the culm banks, ‘These culm banks are being removed 
and utilized and eventually will be exhausted, With the orescnt im- 
proved system of mining, and the now recognized value of the smaller 
Sizes of coal, when the culm banks are gone the supply into the 
Streams will practicaily cease, However, while-the culm banks-are 
being used, owing to the loosening up anc handling of the coal, more 
Goal is washec into the streams than when the banks are undisturbed, 
Withinithe inextcfew yeaus large quantities of coal may be weshed 
Bobo the creeks and rivers and become available for future reciaim~ 
ie, in several places. where washeries established at typicns culm 
benks have been in operation for about four years, the banks have 
been about half removed, There are many culm banks of about the | 
Bamé Size Ss.yet untouched, anc if the same process be adopted for 
Miilizime-these, it would appear that at least for eight or ten 
years durther supplies of small sizes of coal will rench the streams, 


WORKING CONDITIONS. 
Few localities were found during this investigation in which it 
appeared necessary to suspend operestions at any time on account of 
Mievevercitvy oOo: coal, This condition might occur occasionally in 
susquehanna River south of the Rockville bridge. However, conditions 


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frequently interfere with the operation of river and creck coal 
plants. It appeared that those plants which worked when conditions 
permitted were able, to operate about 200 days during the yesr. Many 
of the smaller operators co not attempt to work continuously and 
have their equipment in service only when conditions cre most favore- 
able or when they have orders to fill. At least one-half of the 
Operations with a capacity of 5000 to 10,000 tons per year were ide 
at the time the investigation was mace. Others which had suspenced 
earlier in the year were just resuming operations. It is likely 
that if the owners ond operators of these smaller-plants could, be 
encouragec with a steady market for their product, they would work 
continuously, and would easily t-ke core of the suggested increase 
in output. 


QUALITY OF PRODUCT. 


River anc creek coal is mure or less mixed with small pebbles, 
bits of wood, sanc ane other foreign substances which cannot successs, 
fully be screencd out, and much of it looks as if it would be rather 
poor fuel, The purity and sizo cf the cosl depends somewhat on the 
koGation from which it is reclaimed, The cleanest coal and the 
largest pieces are found nearest to the mines. On Yiconisco Creek 
eahove Elizabethvillc where the mines are only 2 few miles distant, 
® £51ir percentage of the product is screened to sizes that can be 
burned in small heating plants witnout forced draft, Probably the 
Pegescoa. tor all purposes is found’ in the upper part of Wiconisco 
Creek, but the quantity is limited and the transportation faciiities 
Bre mou very good, AS coal is carried farther down stream it becomes 
emalier and more mixed with foreign matter. In‘the lnrger streams, 
@especiaily where it is curried from tribduteries, the conl is found 
Mae Wien cena. ANC’ ngain, aiter it is carried for some distence 
in the larger streams, the 2ction of the water sppenrs to have 
screened out the sanc to a considerable extent... Beds are founc in 
the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers containing send and co2l in all 
proportions. in some pluices the sanc so predominates that it is 
more profitable to recover it end waste the coal. Shoals which do 
mot contain more than 25 or 30 per cent of sand can be successfully 
Washed, though no apparatus in use will entirely remove sand or 
Other foreign matter. It is said that an electrical device, lately 
invented will separete sand and coal completciy, regardless of the 
proportion of sand or other foreign mettcr mixed with the conrl. 
Although as washed by present methods, most of the river coal looks: 
Girty, those who have been using the procuct with proper applicnces, 
have been getting surprisingly good resuits. 


Analyses of coal recleimed by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation 
Compsny anc furnished to the New Jersey Zine Comp.rny are reported 
as Showing 10 per cent’ ash. Analyses of coal taken from various 
points along the Susquehanns and its tributaries are saic to run 
<rom. 15° to 15 per cent ash, 


EQUIPMENT FOR BURNING RIVER COAL. 


When river coal was first put on the narket, few plants were 
equipped with proper grates anc blowers for using such small mzterial. 


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However, at present the commercial plants are burning the small sizes 
of Coal from the mines as well as from the rivers, and in most 
plants cither product can be used. For hand stoking, stationary 
sectional grates, with funnel shrped apertures, very smill-at the 
top surface ace the grate anc. wid Lae tO vhs under surface, are 
largely used. On this type of grnte the ashes and cinders mus ‘tbe 
pulled. ea or chsin grates are used with outomatic stokers, 
Blowers for meking forced draft are of the electric fan or steam 
turbinc types. 


CONCLUSION, 


The life of the river cosl industry 2s predicted in this re- 
port is based upon the presumption that there will te 2 continuous 
output in the next five to tcn years at about the same rate as in 
1919, long beforc the supply of river coal is exhausted, however, 
the prices and supply of mine coal mey decresse‘the rate of produc- 


“tion of river coal to vhet it was prior to 1919, to await the stimu- 


ius of future abnormal prices or shortages of coal. In such case, 
tre industry might be continued 2s 2 sporadic business, much longer 


,than for the predicted ten yvear pericd, 


fat 


The development of natural resources is frequently attended by 
economic waste. In Pennsylvanis we wasted our timber resources- 
our mountnin sides covered with rotting logs testify to our prodi- 
Bality. Unfortunstely, we fully realized our timber hoas only after 
ane supply was depleted. In the conrl ficlaés the waste was just’ as 
pronounced, but in this case we were more fortunate, The streams 
picked up and’ preserved the discarded coal and even carried it part 
Way to market. Much of this waste of former years is being and “will 
be reclrimed. 


In addition to its direct economic value, river cool may have 
servec another useful purpose, tke benefits of which may continue 
dong after the industry itself has disappeared. The naévent of river 
Goal at attractive prices has stimulated the invention and installa- 
tion of equipments adapted fon’ #ts, use, anc also for use of, the 
Smaller sizes of coal from the mines, Before the adyent of river 
Coal there was no market for the smoll sizes of mine co2l because 
commercial piants could not use them. When the supply of river coal 


‘is exhausted there will be hundreds o€ plants equippec for burning 


the small sizes of conl from the mines and consequently a market for 
the product, 


Therefore, the ultimate death of the river coil industry will 
not mean a loss,in our resources, but rather a gain. The small 
Sizes of mine coal will have a ma arke t, and having commercial value, 
Will reduce the price of lerger sizes, 


© 


pecond edition, May 29, 1922. 











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